“This kid can do a lot more. So let’s push the limits of what we can do with him.” This sentiment from Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson after watching Malachi Toney‘s progression through the season
couldn’t be more accurate. Toney didn’t just contribute for the Hurricanes as a true freshman – he obliterated program records, shattered expectations, and became the most decorated first-year player in Miami history while leading the Canes to the national championship game.
The 5’11” Miami native entered the program with decent expectations as a three-star recruit – the No. 359 player nationally and No. 55 wide receiver in the nation according to 247 Composite Rankings. And Toney completely exceeded any projections. He reclassified from the 2026 class to arrive at Miami at just 17 years old, choosing the Hurricanes over Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Florida State. Toney didn’t just meet the moment – he owned it – carving out his own name in Miami lore as the most explosive freshman playmaker in the country.
As he rewrote the history books in Year One, Toney established himself as a future NFL prospect who should dominate at Miami for the next two years. But before we look ahead, let’s reflect on the greatness we just witnessed during his record-breaking freshman campaign…
Baby Jesus Comes Home
At American Heritage School in Plantation, just 20 minutes from Hard Rock Stadium, Toney was a do-everything weapon who won the 2024 Nat Moore Award as South Florida’s top football player and was named Florida High School Player of the Year by MaxPreps. He led the Patriots to a 12-2 record and the Class 4A state championship, playing quarterback during the playoffs after the starter went down with a season-ending injury. When your team needs you most, you step up – a theme that would define Toney’s freshman year at Miami.
Prior to college, Toney stood at 5’11”, 188lbs, but possessed elite athletic traits with explosive speed and short-area quickness that left defenders grasping at air. He turned heads not just with his receiving ability, but with his football IQ and versatility. Whether lined up at receiver, in the backfield, or under center, Toney had an innate understanding of how to attack defenses.
Upon committing to Miami and in spite of being a three-star, Toney held offers from powerhouse programs across the country. But like all the great Hurricanes before him, he couldn’t stay away from South Florida. Unlike some South Florida natives (cough, cough, Jeremiah Smith) who chose to chase titles elsewhere, Toney believed in staying home and building something special at The U. While Smith was busy winning a national championship at Ohio State as a true freshman in 2024, Toney was proving that staying loyal to your hometown can be just as rewarding. When asked if he would have chosen Miami if the program had been more successful during his recruitment, Smith admitted, “Most likely, yeah. I probably would’ve ended up going to Miami if things were on the right track then and there.”
Well, guess what? Miami is competing at that level now – in fact beating Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl – and Toney chose to be part of the reason why rather than chasing success someone else built.
Toney’s Road to Early Career Accolades
Before he tallied 109 receptions (led FBS), 1,211 receiving yards (led ACC), and 10 receiving TDs (led ACC) – plus 113 rushing yards, another touchdown on the ground, two passing touchdowns, and 298 punt return yards over his career – Toney still had to prove he could handle the college game at 17 years old.
In fact, when Miami landed Toney’s commitment, there were questions about whether a reclassified freshman could genuinely compete in the ACC and where he would stand on a wide receiver depth chart full of high quality transfers. Would he need a redshirt year? Would the physicality overwhelm his frame? Would the speed of the game be too much?
Toney answered those questions in the very first game of the season opener against Notre Dame, catching the first touchdown of Miami’s season, a 28-yard post route and showcasing his game-breaking elusiveness with six receptions for 82 yards. From that moment, it was clear: this wasn’t just any freshman. This could a generational talent.
“He was our secret little weapon tonight,” QB Carson Beck told reporters following the game. “I don’t think he’ll be a secret anymore. Man, that kid is special and obviously he’s very talented and gifted. But the work he puts in and his willingness to learn, his maturity for the age he is, it’s off the charts.”
During his freshman season, Toney didn’t just light up the stat sheet – he became the most versatile weapon Miami has had in decades. He finished as the only freshman in all of FBS with over 1,000 receiving yards. He set Miami freshman records for receptions and receiving yards that had stood for years. He posted 100-yard receiving games against Florida State, Louisville, Virginia Tech, and Pittsburgh. He caught passes, threw touchdowns, ran the ball, returned punts, and even lined up in the Wildcat formation where he completed 4 of 6 passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
Toney wasn’t just a receiver – he was a football player in the truest sense. He did whatever the team needed, constantly earning praise from coaches and teammates for his willingness to block, his toughness over the middle, and his clutch gene in critical moments. Against Texas A&M in the playoff opener, he fumbled early but redeemed himself with the game-winning touchdown on a jet sweep—the only touchdown of the entire game. Against Florida State, he caught a flea-flicker touchdown that silenced Doak Campbell Stadium (not to mention the catch and scamper called back on a procedural penalty). Against Pittsburgh, he tied the program record with 13 receptions while also throwing a nine-yard touchdown pass. And in the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss, with the national championship on the line and just over five minutes remaining, Toney caught a simple screen pass and turned it into a 36-yard touchdown scamper that gave Miami a 24-19 lead – breaking tackles, showing elite balance, and displaying the breakaway speed that makes him impossible to bring down in the open field.
As a dynamic playmaker who evolved from a promising recruit to immediate superstar, Toney was reliable as ever throughout his 16-game freshman season. He surpassed Xavier Restrepo’s single-season receptions record and Charleston Rambo’s 2021 mark of 1,172 receiving yards, finishing with a school-record 1,211. Even more impressively, he did so while playing in the most high-pressure games imaginable – the College Football Playoff. In the national championship game against Indiana, despite the loss, Toney posted a game-high 10 receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown, proving he belonged on the biggest stage in college football.
In 2025, along with the program records he set, Toney earned the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Offensive Freshman of the Year award, was named ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year – the first Hurricane to earn the distinction since Tyler Van Dyke in 2021 – and was selected to All-ACC First Team at wide receiver and Second Team as an all-purpose player. He also earned All-America recognition from the Associated Press, The Sporting News, The Athletic, and CBS Sports.
The Future is Now
The natural playmaker who lives for the big moment ended up becoming more than just a prolific freshman. Even though he just turned 18 years old this season, Toney carries a far more potent skill set than most veteran college receivers. Based on his on-field production, Toney sits squarely in the conversation as a future first-round 2028 NFL Draft pick after just one season of college football.
And here’s where it gets really interesting: Toney is already appearing on 2026 Heisman Trophy odds boards, making him one of the few non-quarterbacks in serious consideration for college football’s most prestigious individual award. That’s rarefied air for a player entering his sophomore season, but when you’ve just broken Miami’s single-season receptions and receiving yards records as a true freshman with a national championship appearance, expectations tend to skyrocket.
Those expectations are about to get even higher with the arrival of dynamic quarterback Darian Mensah, who officially enrolled at Miami this week after settling a legal dispute with Duke. Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns – both best in the ACC – while leading the Blue Devils to their first outright conference title since 1962. Now imagine what he can do with the most talented young receiver in the country running routes for him along with projected WR2, Cooper Barkate, who also joins from Duke?
The chemistry between Toney and Beck in the retooled offense was already special, but Mensah’s arrival unlocks an entirely new dimension to Miami’s offense. Mensah is an elite downfield passer with the arm strength to hit Toney on those deep routes that turn into highlights. He’s also a savvy playmaker who thrives on extending plays and finding his best weapon in critical moments – exactly the type of quarterback who can elevate a Heisman dark horse into a legitimate contender.
Toney is no longer just a recruiting ranking or a promising freshman – he’s a proven commodity entering Year Two with a quarterback who can maximize every ounce of his potential. More and more scouts are recognizing his explosiveness, versatility, toughness, competitiveness, and clutch gene. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways – as a receiver, runner, passer, and returner – makes him nearly impossible to game-plan against, especially now that defensive coordinators have to account for Mensah’s playmaking ability as well.
While projecting Heisman campaigns may seem premature for a player who just turned 18, Canes fans know what the do-everything player with a champion’s mentality is capable of. Some have compared him to a young Percy Harvin or Tyreek Hill for his versatility, or a more polished Reggie Bush for his elusiveness in space. With Mensah feeding him the ball, those comparisons might sell Toney short. Regardless, one thing is clear: Toney has the background and skillset to be special at the next level a two-plus years from now, but there’s still unfinished business at the U.
As a utility weapon, Toney has proven he can line up anywhere and make plays. His willingness to block, run routes from the slot or outside, take handoffs, throw passes, and return punts makes him invaluable. And his 5’11” frame sometimes allows Toney to resemble a running back as a ball carrier once he catches it, breaking tackles and creating yards after contact. Regardless, Toney is not afraid to work through traffic and get open to the point where he has also been able to display prowess on deep balls and contested catches despite being one of the youngest players on the field.
Toney, Just Getting Started as a Hurricane
Toney will certainly continue to be the centerpiece of Miami’s offense for at least the next two years to come, until he becomes draft eligible for the NFL. That said, Toney has already been able to impart his competitive spirit and work ethic upon a talented receiving room for 2026 and beyond. Toney now has the big game experience and will be joined by Mensah as well as a WR corps consisting of transfer portal additions in Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, and Cam Vaughn, and returning players in Josh Moore and Daylyn Upshaw. Toney with a team-centric competitive season under his belt will be able to prove leading by example can continue to elevate the entire position group.
As he prepares for his sophomore season, Toney’s passion and ability to deliver in clutch moments will continue to define the Hurricanes’ offense. The task ahead is clear: finish what they started. Miami came within six points of a national championship in their own stadium, and with Toney leading the charge alongside Darian Mensah, the Canes have every piece in place to complete the mission and bring a title back to Coral Gables.
Despite the vultures circling after the championship loss – with programs from Ohio State to Florida trying to lure him away – Toney’s mother made it crystal clear on social media where her son’s future lies. When a fan suggested he should enter the transfer portal and go “home” to Ohio State, she didn’t hesitate: “Don’t get it twisted, we’re home,” she wrote, later adding, “And it’s still go Canes…back in the lab.”
The loyalty is mutual as Toney’s NIL compensation is expected to see a major increase. But this isn’t just about money – it’s about a kid who chose to stay home and build a legacy rather than chase someone else’s success.
The best part? He’s just getting started. And the championship window is wide open. Now it’s time to kick the door down.
GO CANES!
